How to check a money claim in five minutes

The seven questions

1. What year are these numbers from?

Tax brackets, Social Security increases, Medicare premiums and contribution limits change every year. A video or article from three years ago may use numbers that no longer apply. Look for the year, and check it against the current figure at the source.

2. Where does the number come from?

A good source is the agency that sets the rule: the IRS, the Social Security Administration, Medicare. A weaker source is "studies show" or "experts say" with no name. If the speaker does not say where a number comes from, treat it as an opinion.

3. Whose numbers are they?

The example person's facts may not be yours. "A $500,000 portfolio" and "$2,000 a month" are a different situation from your own. The same advice can be right for one household and wrong for another. That is why the Case Files end with a tool.

4. What is left out?

Look for what is not in the calculation: state tax, inflation, fees, the Medicare surcharge, the tax on Social Security. Advice that skips these can look much better than it is. Good sources tell you what they left out.

5. Who gains if I believe it?

Someone who sells investments, insurance or annuities earns money when you buy. That does not make them wrong, but it is a reason to check the claim somewhere else, and to ask how they are paid.

6. What are the costs and the catch?

Ask: what does it cost, what can I lose, can I undo it, and how long am I locked in? A Roth conversion cannot be undone. A surrender-fee annuity can lock your money for years. If nobody mentions a catch, ask for it in writing.

7. Can I test it on my own numbers?

Whenever you can, put your own figures into a calculator. Our free tools do this for three common decisions. Then check the result with a qualified professional who knows your whole situation.

Warning words

These phrases are not proof of a scam, but they are reasons to slow down and check:

• "Guaranteed," "no risk," or "can't lose"
• "Tax-free forever" or "the IRS doesn't want you to know"
• "A secret the banks don't want you to know"
• "Act today" or "limited time"
• "Everyone is doing it"

An example: "Roth it all"

In Case File No. 3, a church bulletin says "Roth it all." Apply the questions. Year: the tax rules of 2026. Source: the bulletin names none. Whose numbers: not Linda's. Left out: the tax bill (about $53,800 for converting the whole account in one year in the example), the Medicare surcharge and the Social Security tax. Who gains: unclear. Catch: it cannot be undone. Test it: use the Roth Check. In five minutes, a slogan becomes a question with an answer.